First Formal Paper

Two Mice

The painting from the children's book A Lucky Thing by Alice Schertle is fascinating. It is very simple, yet it depicts a greater message. This watercolor painting portrays a small, brown mouse gazing down with shiny eyes, pointy nose and alert ears at a simple, white, two-buttoned computer mouse. These two mice are the main focus of the painting and many elements point to them. For example, to the left edge of the painting the painting shows small, silver paperclip placed at a diagonal angle and falling off the edge of the painting. The paperclip falls in a gap between the two mice, directing the viewer's eye towards them. To the right edge of the paper a pointy, yellow pencil is doing the same task: falling between the mice directing our eyes towards the middle of the painting. Above in the top right corner, a portion of a red book is painted, covering a white note that is hardly readable. All these items sit on a light-colored, wooden desk.

The lighting is very significant in this painting and it seems like there is a light, maybe from a desk lamp, shining down on the computer mouse, therefore directing the viewer's attention to it. The small, live mouse is creeping forward, towards the light, curiously looking at this strange object that shares its name. Since the lighting above the computer mouse is very bright, towards the top of the painting, shadows are shown that cause the desk to seem a dark umber. The red book pops out because it hardly contains any shadows itself.

The concept of this painting is intriguing. There is a curiosity depicted in the live mouse's face that is very obvious by the way he is painted. The mouse's expression is as if the live, natural, organic mouse meets with the modern, man-made mouse. This watercolor painting shows a juxtaposition between the two mice. They are literally placed side by side to be compared by the viewer. The placement of the two mice expresses the many technological advances that are created everyday and how the world is adapting to them. The breathing mouse represents today's society: curious and eager, yet reluctant to accept the many technological advances created everyday. This is seen by the way the live mouse is reluctantly inching forward to gaze at this new object. Could there be more behind the composition of these two mice or is it merely a comical, entertaining children's book cover?

Schertle, Alice. A Lucky Thing. San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1999. Print.